Erin Stewart just vetoed critical funding for human services and community organizations in our city!

Mayor Stewart had proposed reducing and eliminating $126,432 allocated by the city from federal HUD grants to organizations that provide needed human services that help people in our city. When City Council Democrats, without a single Republican vote, restored some of the funding that Stewart had cut, she responded by vetoing $371,000 in critical funding for services for children and youth, feeding the hungry, helping women and families harmed by domestic violence, keeping the homeless warm and more.

The post below from http://nbpoliticus.blogspot.com provides details on the Stewart administration’s attempt to circumvent the shared governance the city uses to allocate federal funds

In a June 6th letter Mayor Erin Stewart vetoed and returned to the Common Council a plan for use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the new fiscal year.

On May 28th the Common Council on a 7 to 5 voted restored funds to several community agencies that had been reduced by the Mayor’s Commission on Community and Neighborhood Development (CCND).

According to The New Britain Herald story several organizations that had been zeroed out by Stewart and the CCND, including the Prudence Crandall Center, the Opportunities Industrialization Center and HRA’s Polish Outreach Center, among others, had grant funds put back into the plan by the Council.

At issue is the allocation for community services in the $1.5 million the city receives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The Council reduced the percentage this year to $371,000 or 24.7 percent of the CDBG money while the Administration and acting Municipal Development Director Ken Malinowski wants to allocate $319,000 (21.2 percent) — an 8.4 percent cut in funds that have been relied on by various community agencies for more than 30 years.

Stewart and Malinowski, citing HUD’s recommended allocation percentage of 15% for community and social services, want to re-direct funds under the federal program. This is not a matter of reducing appropriations to save the cash-strapped city but federal funds that are available for a range of neighborhood , housing and community services. Mayor Stewart and Malinowski want the money for something else, but the specifics have not been given to justify immediate cuts to direct service programs.

Some observers claim the transfer of funds is sought to pay for Malinowski’s $102,000 annual salary as acting head of the department that handles the federal money, a job he left when the previous administration took office in 2011. As is, the Council approved money for management and administration totalling $300,236 or 20 percent of the CDBG budget.

In re-appointing Malinowski to lead municipal development at a six figure salary Mayor Stewart said she wanted to “get the federal money flowing again.” It also helped that Malinowski was a primary fundraiser for the Mayor’s 2013 campaign after he openly flirted with a mayoral run himself. But Malinowski’s record as a dispenser of HUD funds took at least one serious hit late in the administration of former Mayor Tim Stewart. HUD ordered the city to return $100,000 for a “non-recourse” loan made to Arete Development Group because the loan was ineligible. HUD found violations on the loan given to Arete on Malinowski’s watch related to the application process, environmental standards and accounting for the money.

In her June 6th veto letter Mayor Stewart cited a letter from a HUD official who said most cities have “an annual limit of 15% that can be spent on public services.” But the same letter affirmed that New Britain has used an allowable “exception” granted in 1984 that may exceed the 15% goal for human and social services. “The statute and regulations have allowed New Britain and similarly situated cities to continue to use that exception ever since,” wrote Gary Reisine, director of community planning and development in Connecticut’s HUD office. At the very least HUD is not mandating New Britain’s move to 15 percent this year, contrary to what Stewart and Malinowski are implying.

The veto is little more than a power play to circumvent the shared governance process that has long been established in the allocation of federal funds. Unfortunately, it may be a pretext by the administration to take money away from direct services for unspecified uses by the Mayor and her political appointee, Ken Malinowski.

There Is No Joy In Mudville: Hartford Council To Take Up Rock Cats Proposal Monday, 6/9

The Hartford City Council will consider controversial plans for a $60 million, city-financed ballpark in downtown Hartford at its regular meeting on Monday. The team and Hartford officials announced a tentative agreement last week that would move the Rock Cats out of New Britain in 2016.

No notification was given to New Britain officials. Secret talks were initiated by team owner Josh Solomon a year and a half ago, according to press reports. Solomon, who said his group was committed to staying in New Britain when he acquired the team two years ago, may be lining up Springfield if the Hartford deal fails.

The move would leave New Britain Stadium, also financed with city and state funds when it was built in 1996 [at a fraction of the proposed $60 million Hartford plan], without a major tenant after next year. In New Britain, the Rock Cats, first owned by the late Joe Buzas and then a local group led by Attorney Coleman Levy, has become one of minor league baseball’s most successful franchises.

Across the city this past week the hurt and disappointment was not so much over jobs and economic loss. It was more like losing the tradition and community pride of having professional baseball a part of the town for more than a generation. The place where many of us have memories of taking our kids and watching big league stars like Roger Clemens, Ellis Burks, Mo Vaughn, Jeff Bagwell, David Ortiz, Justin Mourneau, Torii Hunter and others may be gone for good.

Because of that tradition and those memories, it’ll be worth the time and effort to make the stadium a place for baseball or a new tradition and source of pride when Mr. Solomon’s team leaves town.

June 4th DTC Recognition Reception

Alderwoman Shirley Black and Dr. Frank Gerratana, both leaders on the Democratic Town Committee, were recognized with Distinguished Service awards at a June 4th reception held at the Cafe Beauregard. Comptroller Kevin Lembo, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill and the city’s legislative delegation joined New Britain Democrats for the event that kicked off the 2014 campaign.

Frank Self and State Comptroller Kevin Lembo. Historic photos are from Dr. Frank Gerratana’s collection of his father’s photojournalism.

In photo of Governor and New Britain native Abraham Ribicoff is a young Frank Gerratana.

Cafe Beauregard Owner and Chef Robert Chiovoloni with Frank Gerratana.

End Quote

“When I was growing up, tax dollars for public works were used for serious public services. Taxpayers paid to build schools, highways, bridges, libraries, health clinics, public transit and other community needs. Tax dollars were not given over to the mega-rich’s profitable athletic playpens. To even suggest tax money for private major league baseball parks would get you laughed or ridiculed out of town.”

Winsted’s Ralph Nader quote on building an MLB stadium in Cleveland with public funds.

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Labor donated. Any costs associated with this message paid for by New Britain Democratic Town Committee, Post Office Box 2112, New Britain CT 06050 John Valengavich, Treasurer. Approved by John McNamara

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